Cardiff’s horticultural apprentices showcase gardening skills learnt in France

Posted by Now Cardiff on Dec 18, 2012

Three young horticultural apprentices, who travelled to Cardiff’s twin city of Nantes in France to gain new skills and experiences, have presented their findings to project partners.

Anthony Davies, Joshua Thatcher and Magdalena Szczerbinska spent three weeks with the Nantes Parks Department Beaujoire as part of the Cardiff Council Parks and Gardens Horticultural Apprenticeship Scheme, funded by the European Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

Cabinet Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Huw Thomas said: “We are extremely proud of the Council’s horticultural apprenticeship scheme which continues to provide young people with opportunity to learn valuable skills in an outdoor environment, utilising the city’s excellent parks and green spaces.

“This event will showcase what they have learnt and how the scheme has benefitted their studies as well as demonstrating how positive and credible the scheme is, having been awarded European funding.”

The event which took place on Wednesday 12, December at the Bute Park Education Centre also gave family members of the apprentices and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the major funder of heritage skills in Wales, the opportunity to discover what the group learnt during the work experience placement, including looking at the various differences and similarities between the two cities Councils and parks departments, vehicles and mechanisation, organisation and horticultural methods. They will also demonstrate some ideas that Cardiff could possibly implement here.

The apprentices undertook several French language tutorials in preparation for the placement improving language skills in addition to horticulture.

They worked with gardeners in the Jardin des Plantes, the Grand Blottereau park and the Beaujoire flower gardens.

Cardiff Council was successful in securing over 12,500 Euros from the Leonardo da Vinci Programme to develop the exchange programme for the Parks Services horticultural apprentices.

The Nantes exchange scheme has been a highly valuable part of the horticultural apprenticeship training programme which has the benefits of improving their horticultural skills and assisting in contributing to the apprentice’s curriculum for their studies in horticulture.

Jennifer Stewart, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Wales which is supporting a range of heritage skills work based placements, said: “This scheme has provided invaluable experiences and opportunities for the apprentices. It’s great to see Anthony, Joshua and Magdalena so passionate about developing the skills they need to take Wales’ heritage forward.

“In a tough job market it’s more important than ever that we invest in training placements to provide job-seekers or career changers with the practical skills and confidence they need to get jobs within the heritage sector. Such is the demand for these opportunities we have invested further in our Skills for the Future programme which is now open to new applicants until 31 January 2013.”

The Leonardo da Vinci Programme is part of the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme which supports education and training across Europe. It also provides opportunities for UK vocational education and training.

Cardiff Council’s horticultural apprenticeship scheme aims to develop skills through an in-house programme of practical training, combined with day release study. The scheme addresses the current skills gap in the industry and contributes to promoting career development and retaining a highly skilled workforce in the Parks Service.

As part of the programme, the apprentices benefit from a diverse range of activities and operations associated with horticulture including plant production and propagation, plant identification, conservation and tree management and fine turf.

Youth orchestra winds up season on high note

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 19, 2011

Cardiff County and Vale of Glamorgan Youth Orchestra will end their season of concerts for 2010 -2011 on a high note at Llandaff Cathedral this week.

The young musicians will perform Saint-Saens’ Organ Symphony on Thursday July 21 (7.30pm), featuring the new Nicholson organ which has been recently installed at the cathedral.

The organ will be played by the notable Welsh organist, Huw Tregelles Williams, former Head of Music at the BBC, who has given organ recitals at venues all over the world during his illustrious career.

The programme will also include Verdi’s “Force of Destiny” overture, Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Mussorgsky’s “Night on a Bare Mountain”. Tickets for the performance are available at the door, costing £10 and £6 for concessions.

Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “This is a terrific way for the youth orchestra to bring the year to a close in an inspiring venue and with such a distinguished performer in their midst. The youth orchestra concerts are always of an extremely high standard and I’m sure this week’s performance will be as enjoyable as usual.”

Richard Parks completes 737 quest

Posted by Now Cardiff on Jul 12, 2011

On 12th July 2011 Richard Parks made history becoming the first ever person to stand on the 7 highest summits of the world and all 3 poles – The South Pole, North Pole and summit of Everest in the same calendar year. An incredible feat achieved within 7 record setting months.

209 days ago Richard Parks left Cardiff attempting to make history and raise £1m in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.  The former Wales rugby international, turned mountaineer had just one more mountain left to climb to complete his world first.

Mount Elbrus, the highest point in the Russian Caucasus and Europe was all that stood between Richard becoming the first ever person to stand on the 7 highest summits of the world and all 3 poles in the same calendar year.  In fact, he completed his challenge in a record setting 7 months.

189 days ago Richard was stood on the South Pole having completed the first leg of his 7-month race looking ahead to 7 gruelling months of climbing, trekking and skiing and to the dangers and unknowns of some the most hostile places on the planet.

This week he arrived home from Alaska for one day, enough time to wash some kit and re pack before jetting off to Russia.

Interview requests are flooding in and excitement building now Richard has achieved this incredible world first, but he remained as focused and steadfast about how he approached climbing the last mountain.

Richard Parks is a former Welsh international rugby player, earning caps against South Africa, Fiji, Scotland and Ireland. He also represented the Barbarians and Wales Sevens on the IRB world circuit and in the World Cup.

As a back row forward, he made a name for himself as a hard, prolific tackler and support player. However, he was recently forced to retire from the game due to a career ending shoulder injury. Richard was an integral part of both the Principality Cup winning Pontypridd side and the Powergen Cup winning Leeds Tykes.

After a spell playing for the French club USA Perpignan, he returned to Wales with the Gwent Dragons, passionate to represent his country again. Despite putting himself back into contention for International selection with his performances for the region, sadly injury prevented his return to the International stage and ultimately forced his early retirement from what was a highly successful 13 year career in professional rugby. When asked about the 737 Challenge, Richard said;

“Lying in bed following my second operation to repair my shoulder, I was suddenly faced with the reality of life without professional rugby, which had been at the centre of my entire adult life. The adjustment was difficult to deal with as the disciplines of my rugby career no longer applied. Suddenly everything changed – what I ate, the pattern of sleep and my regular daily routine. I felt utterly lost! From the confident person with an organised lifestyle that I had always been, I became scared of the unknown future that lay ahead. I suffered with a mixture of frustration, despair and even anger dominating my thoughts. I was deeply depressed. It was a dark place for me.”

“I happened to be reading Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ book ‘Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know’, which somehow became intertwined with a phrase from my Nana’s funeral ‘The horizon is only the limit of our sight’.”

“It had an immediate effect on me, helping me find the courage and inspiration to face head on my fears and my future. From reading about the experiences of Sir Ranulph Fiennes in his book, the mental, physical and technical challenges of Polar travel and climbing the 7 summits captured my imagination. At the very moment I discovered the 7 summits, I had decided that I was going to climb them! ”

“I learnt that our lives will always be made up of many chapters. We can never go back and we cannot forsee our future. However, we can take charge right now of how we choose to live and what we think, right now in the present. I had belief anew! All I had to do now was find other people that believed in me too!!”

“I found this belief in the support that I received both from Sir Ranulph Fiennes himself and from the organisations that have become closely associated with the early days of the project – Jagged Globe, Limegreentangerine, and Marie Curie. So, with their input, my 737 Challenge was born. 7 Summits, 3 Poles in 7 Months. A World First. Raising funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Awesome!”

“since then I have found many more believers. I am very grateful and humbled by the support of all the companies and individuals involved. Their belief in me, The 737 Challenge and my ability to successfully complete the challenge simply means everything. You know who you are, thank you.”